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Reading is a tool that opens every world. The state federation's deep integration into the community leads other organizations to partner with us when schools and community groups want to expand literacy among their students. AFT-Maryland has done this consistently over the past year with the Reading Opens the World events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (video) and Black History Month. During these events AFT-Maryland engages with students as well as faculty and staff as we distribute books for students to use to develop their home libraries.  Things were no different at Hamilton Elementary-Middle School. Students received books focused on characters and stories celebrating Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage. The books are empowering for students... CLICK TO READ > > > MORE
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Every worker deserves to be appreciated, especially by their union. Members of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses (BCFPHN), Local 5102, felt the love from their union at their worksites during National Nurses Week 2023. AFT-Maryland President Kenya Campbell along with AFT-Maryland organizer Janell Edmonds visited public health centers across Baltimore county delivering gifts that represented tokens of appreciation from the members’ union and the state federation.  President Campbell enjoyed visiting the worksites and talking with nurses. “I love getting out in the community and engaging with members. Our members are the backbone of our state and local governments. It was my pleasure to be with the nurses in Baltimore county to offer a token of appreciation on behalf of their union and the state federation,” Campbell said. CLICK THROUGH FOR THE REST, A VIDEO, AND > > > MORE

What unions do

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In AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest New York Times  column, she describes what it is exactly that unions do. Though unions are the most popular they have been in decades, anti-union sentiment still thrives in red states and across the nation. “Several years ago, The Atlantic ran a story whose headline made even me, a labor leader, scratch my head: ‘Union Membership: Very Sexy,’” Weingarten writes in the column. “The gist was that higher wages, health benefits and job security—all associated with union membership—boost one’s chances of getting married. Belonging to a union doesn’t actually guarantee happily ever after, but it does help working people have a better life in the here and now.” Click through to read the full column.

AFT-Maryland Solidarity

Labor power is rising all across the United States and workers in Maryland are capitalizing on the energy surrounding the current labor movement. AFT-Maryland already stands as a leader in fighting for local and state employees in Maryland and we have extended our support to labor siblings in different industries. Members and staff of the state federation have taken to the streets recently to support worker efforts as labor attempts to make inroads against corporate titans such as Starbucks and Amazon. 

Click through for photos and to read more!

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AFTMD Trunk-or-Treat 2023

AFT-Maryland added a twist to the annual Trunk or Treat event this year by passing out books to young people in attendance. In addition to candy and snacks, members also enjoyed the camaraderie and a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The event was supported by a number of community and labor organizations.

Click through for photos from the event and more!

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AFT-Maryland at Baltimore Back to School Community Event

AFT-Maryland had the pleasure of being at Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s Back to School Event on Saturday August 19, 2023. The event gave us an opportunity to engage with members from unions across the federation including City Union of Baltimore (CUB Local 800) and the Baltimore Teachers Union (BTU Local 340) as well as help start libraries for Baltimore students by distributing hundreds of books. Great day for the union and the community!!

Click through for photos, video, and to read more about the event!

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We welcome March with a warm embrace in part because it is National Women’s History Month. AFT-Maryland is fortunate that we don’t have to look too far to find inspirational and encouraging models of leadership. We are fortunate that one of the greatest titans in the history of the American labor movement, Dr. Lorretta Johnson, is one of our own. Her tenacity has delivered meaningful results for working people across Maryland for generations. She has not been selfish with her wisdom or skill as she worked side by side with Marietta English to deliver real results for public employees. Mrs. English dedicated decades of her life to Baltimore city’s children, and to labor causes in Baltimore and throughout the state. We are grateful to use their examples as a north star to guide our path and it is my personal honor to have learned from these women and continue their legacy of leadership.  Our state federation is grateful that we don’t merely have to rely on the past to find examples of outstanding leadership. Many of our locals are led by powerful women who fight for members and stand in solidarity with other labor siblings. MORE
open letter to Governor Hogan

On Monday, April 6, 2020, AFT-Maryland sent this open letter to Gov. Larry Hogan regarding local and state public employees in the state of Maryland.

AFT-Maryland is a federation of public employees that represents nearly 20,000 workers across the state of Maryland. Our members work in the fields of education, public safety, healthcare and more.

For follow-up or interviews with any local union leaders of AFT-Maryland please contact: Ray Baker, Director of Communication, AFT-Maryland, rbaker@aftmd.org.


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Classroom teacher

Welcome Back to a New School Year!

I can only imagine how excited everyone is for the start of the new school year. Although we enjoy our summer break there is no greater feeling than returning to our students and setting them on the path to success. I hope your summer break gave you the time to rest, reflect, and recharge. We are best able to pour into our scholars when we have taken the time to tend to ourselves. The time away from our students, while re-energizing, has also made us excited for their return to the classroom. Vacation was fun, but that does not mean that we also did not miss the joy that our students bring to our lives. 

As we embark on the 2023-24 school year, we do so knowing...

Read on for the rest of President Campbell's Back to School 2023 message > > >

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Union Night at Camden Yards 2023

Labor unions are a team, just like the Baltimore Orioles, and on a humid Friday night in July Baltimore’s team of working people, the Metro Baltimore AFL-CIO, went to Camden Yards to cheer on Baltimore’s baseball team.


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